Colocasia plant named ‘Hawaiian Eye’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of cultivar of  Colocasia  plant named ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ that is characterized by a combination of a medium to large size plant with large purple-green leaves, light purple veins, undulating purple margin, a matte finish and dark purple colored petioles. In combination these characteristics distinguish ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ from all other varieties of  Colocasia  known to the inventor.

Genus: COLOCASIA.

Species: esculenia.

Denomination: ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Colocasiacommonly known as the taro plant or elephant ears. Colocasia is grown asa food crop or for use as an ornamental for container or the landscape.The new cultivar is known botanically as Colocasia esculenia and will bereferred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’. ‘HAWAIIANEYE’ is one of is one of five co-pending applications by the inventorrelating to new cultivars of Colocasia. The other four co-pendingapplications are titled Colocasia. plant named ‘Blue Hawaii’ (U.S.application Ser. No. 12/006,576), Colocasia plant named ‘Hilo Bay’ (U.S.application Ser. No. No. 12/006,474) Colocasia plant named ‘DiamondHead’ (U.S. application Ser. No. 12/006,579) and Colocasia plant named‘Pineapple Princess’ (U.S. application Ser. No. 12/006,581).

Colocasia is a tuberous rooted perennial which is native to tropicalAsia and Polynesia. It grows to 1.5-2 m in height from starchy tubers.The leaves of Colocasia are heart-shaped and very large in size. Thetuberous roots are cooked and eaten as a starchy staple in many tropicalareas. It is also grown as ornamental plants for the landscape in warmerclimates or as a container plant in colder areas.

The new Colocasia variety named ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ is the product of aformal breeding program carried out in a cultivated area in Kula, Hi.The purpose of the breeding program is to develop new commercialvarieties by combining attributes not found in currently commerciallyavailable varieties.

‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ is a seedling selection from the controlled pollinationbetween the female parent an F1 hybrid line (not patented) from a crossbetween breeding line ‘2001-52’ (not patented) and breeding line‘2002-41’ (not patented) and male parent, F1 hybrid line (not patented)from a cross between breeding line ‘2000-132’ (not patented) andbreeding line ‘2000-139’ (not patented). Initially designated as‘2005-23’, ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ was derived from a single plant selected in2005.

The new variety ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ has large dark purple-green colored mattefinish leaves with light purple colored venation and purple undulatingleaf margin. ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ produces uniform dark purple coloredpetioles when mature; young petioles are green to light burgundy incolor. The leaves are ⅓ to ½ times larger than its female and maleparents. The male parent exhibits greenish-purple colored leaves with amatte finish, a smooth margin, and light purple venation. The petiolesare dark purple in color with a matte finish. The female parent exhibitssmaller violet leaves with a purple spot on the upper leaf surface atthe point of leaf and petiole attachment and an undulating margin. Thepetioles are of a dark purple in color. In these aspects, this newvariety differs from its parents.

The closest comparison variety known to the inventor is ‘PineapplePrincess’ (patent application submitted), its closest commercialvariety. ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ produces large purple green colored, mattefinish leaves with light purple colored venation and a purple slightlyundulating leaf margin compared to ‘Pineapple Princess’ that produces alarge yellow-green colored leaves with light purple veins, a mattefinish, undulating purple leaf margins. ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ produces uniformsemi-glossy, dark purple colored petioles when mature compared with thelight burgundy colored petioles of ‘Pineapple Princess’. ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’is a medium to medium-large size plant compared with ‘PineapplePrincess’ which is a small to medium sized compact plant.

The most commonly employed means of asexual propagation of the genusColocasia is the excision and replanting of a plant shoot which consistsof the apical 1 cm-2 cm portion of the plant corm with the attachedbasal 15 cm-20 cm portion of the petiole. In regions of the world whereColocasia is grown, this plant shoot is known as a “huli”, and the meansof propagation is known as “huli propagation”. Asexual propagation ofhulis of ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ began in 2005 in Hawaii by the inventor usinghuli propagation whereby the apical shoots are separated from the plantby cutting the shoot at the top of the corm immediately above the newestleaf scar and planted. Evaluation in field and pot studies have shownthe unique features of ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ to be stable, uniform, andreproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of the new Colocasia variety named‘HAWAIIAN EYE’. In combination these traits set ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ apartfrom all other varieties of Colocasia known to the inventor. ‘HAWAIIANEYE’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypicdifferences may be observed with variations in environmental, climaticand cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype:

-   -   1. ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ exhibits large saggitate-shaped purple-green        colored leaves with light purple colored venation and a purple        undulating leaf margin.    -   2. The surface of the leaves of ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ is a matte        finish.    -   3. ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ produces uniform dark purple colored petioles        when mature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate the overallappearance of ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the drawing may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 shows ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ grown from a huliafter approximately 5 months.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 shows the semi glossy dark purple coloredpetioles of ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’.

The drawing labeled FIG. 3 illustrates a sagittate ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ matureleaf blade with light purple venation and slight undulating purplemargin. Lamina is purple green with a matte finish. This drawing alsoillustrates that part of the leaf which is known as the “piko” namelythe area of upper leaf surface which is present at the junction of theleaf blade with the petiole and from which three principal veinsradiate.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 4 shows the underside of a mature leaf of‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ with light purple lamina and purple primary and secondaryvenation.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 5 shows the spathe (sheath) that normallyencloses the spadix.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 6 shows the spadix (inflorescence) of‘HAWAIIAN EYE’.

All drawings have been made from plants which were approximately 3months old from a division and which have been grown out-of-doors. Nogrowth regulators have been applied.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Colocasia plant named‘HAWAIIAN EYE’. Data was collected front plants that were 3-6 months ofage grown outside in Kula, Hi. as indicated. The color determinationsare in accordance with the 2001 edition of The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, London, England, except where general color termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirementsare similar to other Colocasia.

-   Botanical classification:-   Genus: Colocasia.-   Species. esculenta.-   Denomination: ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’.-   Common name: Taro or elephant ears.-   Plant use: Food, container or landscape plant.-   Cultural requirements: Cultural requirements are well draining soil    or growing media, full sun to partial shade.-   Root system: Fibrous.-   Plant vigor: Vigorous.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—An F1 hybrid plant from a cross between            ‘2001-52’ and ‘2002-41’.        -   Male parent.—An F1 hybrid plant from a cross between            ‘2000-132’ and ‘2000-139’.-   Plant description: The plant has 4-6 suckers closely attached to the    mother plant. A “mother plant” is the plant material which is first    introduced into the soil to begin production. Typically, this plant    material contains part of the huli and 2-3 leaf blades. This    produces a “mother corm” which produces lateral shoots called    ‘cormels’ which give rise to daughter plants. Daughter plants begin    to appear above soil level about 2-3 months after planting of the    mother plant.-   Plant dimensions: 89 cm to 107 cm in height and 96.5 cm to 127 cm in    width.-   Plant hardiness: USDA Zone 7b.-   Propagation: Propagation is accomplished by huli propagation and by    tissue culture.-   Huli Propagation: Root formation occurs immediately after    transplanting. Propagation is complete when fully rooted Daughter    plants appear above soil level around 2-3 months after huli    planting.-   Tissue Culture: Time to develop a new plant capable of growing on    its own roots: 3 weeks.-   Crop time (from propagation to a saleable 1 gallon container): 6-10    weeks at temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit −65 degrees    Fahrenheit.-   Pest or disease susceptibility and resistance: No more or less    susceptible to disease or pests than other cultivars.-   Tuberous Roots:    -   -   Dimensions.—4.8 inches in length, 2.9 inches in diameter.        -   Color.—62D.-   Foliage:    -   -   Number.—On average, a 5 to 6 month old mother plant            maintains 5 functional leaves at a time, each new leaf is            produced approximately every 10 days until the corm natures.        -   Petioles.—Length: Up to 93 cm in length. Width: 10 mm (just            below attachment to lamina)×20 mm (at the upper sinus)×30 mm            (at the middle of the sinus). Color: N187A. Sap color: red.        -   Leaf.—Dimensions at maturity (5-6 months old): 217 mm in            length and 161 mm in width Aspect: Erect with apex down.            Shape: Sagittate lamina. Margins: Entire, undulating. Apex:            Pointed. Base: Peltate. Lamina appendages: Absent.            Attachment: Petiolate with characteristic tissue formed at            junction of leaf blade with the upper termination of the            petiole. This area of leaf tissue is also known as the            “piko” and is evident by virtue of its upper surface being            the same color as the veins or darker. The principal veins            radiate from the piko. Piko color: N186B merging into the            laminar venation. Leaf sheaf: Open. Texture: Matte. Leaf            color (adaxial surface): Young leaves are 147A and mature            leaves are 147B. Leaf color (abaxial surface): N77A.            Venation: Palmate. Veins: Three principal veins radiating            from the piko. The largest a midrib extending from the piko            to the tip of the lamina with up to 12 pairs of secondary            veins radiating from it. Vein color (adaxial surface):            N186B. Vein color (abaxial surface): N186C.-   Flowers and reproductive organs: The inflorescence arises from the    leaf axils. The inflorescence is made up of a short peduncle, a    spadix, and spathe. The spadix is botanically a spike, with a fleshy    central axis to which the small sessile flowers are attached. The    spadix is 105 mm to 120 mm long, with female flowers at the base,    male flowers towards the tip, and sterile flowers in between, in the    region compressed by the neck of the spathe. The extreme tip or    appendage of the spadix has no flowers at all. The spathe is a large    yellowish bract, 235 mm to 260 mm long, which sheathes the spadix.    The lower part of the spathe is purple (N187A) in color and wraps    tightly around the spadix and completely occludes the female flowers    from view. The top portion of the spathe is yellow (14C) in color    and is rolled inward at the apex, but is open on one side to reveal    the male flowers on the spadix. The top and bottom portions of the    spadix are separated by a narrow neck region, corresponding to the    region of the sterile flowers on the spadix.-   Seed: Seed is not produced naturally since male and female flowers    within each inflorescence do not mature at the same time.    Pollination can be achieved manually or, in nature, only with the    presence of small insect pollinators which are found in regions of    genetic origin of the species, and not in Hawaii.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘HAWAIIAN EYE’ as described and illustrated herein. 